Edmonds town hall outlines costs, services and risks ahead of April 22 annexation vote

Edmonds city officials and representatives of South County Fire presented details and answered residents’ questions at a town-hall meeting about a ballot measure on April 22 that would annex Edmonds into the South County Fire Regional Fire Authority (RFA).

Council member Olson, who led the presentation, said annexation is the lowest-cost option the city identified to maintain the current level of fire and emergency medical services. “Annexation to South County Fire is the lowest cost option to maintain the level of quality of our emergency services,” Council member Olson said.

The meeting outlined what would change for residents if annexation passes: property owners would pay South County Fire directly for fire and EMS services rather than the city, Edmonds residents would be able to run for RFA board seats and vote on RFA levies and bond measures, and the city’s separate EMS levy would be eliminated because EMS funding would come through South County Fire.

Why it matters: City officials said the current 15-year contract with South County Fire ends this year and the city faces a structural budget gap driven by years of rising costs, capped property-tax growth and one-time funding already used to smooth prior budgets. City…